Exodus Cry’s Sex Purity “Inquisition” Scam Exposed

The Inquisition, what a show!The Inquisition, here we go!We know you’re wishin’ that we go awayYou better change your point of views today’cause the Inquisition’s here and it’s here to stay!

– Mel Brooks, “History of the World: Part 1”

(Chuck Muth) – Nevada’s decades-old legal brothels have been under a withering assault by the Morality Police for the better part of the last two years, led by a creepy Reno lawyer named Jason Guinasso.

Aiding and abetting this home-grown gaggle of crusaders has been a national group calling itself “Exodus Cry.”

Exodus Cry, like Guinasso, intentionally misleads the public with their incendiary propaganda by conflating voluntary prostitution – including in Nevada’s legal brothels – with “slavery” and “human trafficking.”

It’s despicably dishonest – and the group’s arguments should be dismissed out of hand on that basis alone.

But a new development reveals why this new-fangled group of sex puritans – and as you’ll see, I mean that literally, not figuratively – shouldn’t be given the time of day by anyone wanting to have a serious discussion of this issue.

However, before I get to the explosive Exodus Cry “Chapter Application” that was uncovered and publicized this past weekend, let’s set to rest once and for all the true motivation of these people, as explained by Laila Mickelwait, the group’s “Director of Abolition,” in a tweet on June 14…

“It’s not the legal status of prostitution that causes the harm, it’s the prostitution itself. The longer a woman is in prostitution – legal or illegal – the more she is psychologically damaged and physically harmed. The only way to make her safe is to get her out of prostitution.”

As you can plainly see, Mickelwait’s focus isn’t on “slavery” or “human trafficking.” She’s a commercial sex-work abolitionist. A religious puritan bent on forcibly “saving” consenting, adult women who don’t buy into her pop psychology and don’t want to be “saved.”

But let’s say you share Laila’s “savior complex” and want to join her modern-day Inquisition crusade. Well, first you have to fill out an application.

Or, you DID – until the “Chapter Application” itself was “outed” last weekend by Dr. Gemma Ahearne (@princessjack). And boy, is it ever a revelatory doozy!

“Thank you for your interest in working with Exodus Cry to see the ending of human slavery,” the organization declares in its opening statement on the application. “As you start a chapter in your city, you are committing to host a weekly prayer meeting focused on the ending of slavery and to work to bring awareness in your community on the issue of human trafficking.”

Got it? “Slavery” and “human trafficking.” Who can argue with that, right

Ah, but later on we get to the group’s “Mission Statement” which adds “the outlawing of Prostitution worldwide” – which is decidedly NOT the same as “slavery” and “human trafficking.”

Funny how that wasn’t included in their opening statement, huh?

Onward…

Applicants wishing to start an Exodus Cry chapter in their city have eight “requirements” they must fulfill to join the Inquisition – including a commitment to the Exodus Cry “Purity Covenant” and “Statement of Faith.”

Hmm. Sounds a little more like a religious crusade than an effort to end slavery, but maybe that’s just me. Let’s see…

“Jesus taught that when we go out into this world, our primary focus should be to reconcile others to God,” reads the “Values” statement applicants must agree to. “Our social justice methodology is fueled with a desire to see the salvation of both the oppressed and the oppressor.”

Nope, I was right. This is Evangelism 101.

But if you’re still not convinced, let’s move to Exodus Cry’s chapter application “Questionnaire”…

Question #1: “What are your past church/spiritual affiliations?”

Odd. Does this mean only actively practicing religious people can fight slavery and human trafficking?

Question #2: “Were you the victim of any kind of child abuse?”

Well, Mom made me eat broccoli. Does that count?

OK, sorry. That was flippant.

Real child abuse is a serious matter – and anyone who hurts an innocent, defenseless child should be drawn and quartered.

But this still seems like an awfully personal question for an employment-like application to fight slavery, doesn’t it?

Question #3: “Are you currently in a relationship, outside of marriage, which involves ongoing sexual activity.”

Seriously? You can’t join the crusade against slavery, human trafficking and even prostitution if you’re having pre-marital sex?

Question #4: “Do you have any non-sexual compulsive behaviors?”

Uh-oh. I guess my friend and UNLV sex researcher Christina Parreira’s compulsion for Christian Louboutin shoes is a disqualifier, even though the word “Christian” is in the name!

Question #5: “Have you completed an inner healing program/ministry of any kind?”

Um, no. Guess I’m out, too. Christina, let’s go shopping!

Question #6: “Are you currently or have you ever been in professional counseling?”

So I guess if you’ve ever been to a marriage counselor to save your marriage – and the permissible married sexual activity that comes with it! – you can’t be a soldier in the Exodus Cry crusade against slavery and human trafficking.

Question #7: “Do you use alcohol, illegal drugs or other mood-altering substances?”

Well, there goes Homer Simpson and the gang at Moe’s Tavern!

Also, all the Catholics who drink wine with communion at mass on Sunday.

Question #8: “Are you currently taking any prescribed medication?”

So much for diabetics and folks suffering from high blood pressure.

Seriously, what the Hades do these questions have to do with fighting slavery and human trafficking?

But if you want to know what REALLY pushes these folks’ buttons, check out the next two questions…

Question #9: “Are you or have you struggled with homosexual thoughts, feelings or behaviors?”

And…

Question #10: “Do you believe that homosexual physical contact or inordinate emotional closeness with the same sex is sinful?”

OK, this isn’t as bad as the Westboro Baptist Church’s “God Hates Fags” campaign, but the sentiment sure sounds similar.

Um, does that include the Victoria’s Secret catalogue? What about the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition? Inquiring minds wanna know.

OK, kidding aside, these people aren’t out to eliminate “slavery” and “human trafficking.” Their true agenda is revealed in the group’s “Purity Covenant” that applicants must sign…

“The Purity Covenant is a personal commitment to wholehearted sexual purity. One of the great battles facing our generation is the battle for sexual purity.”

What exactly does that mean, you might ask?

Well, clearly these folks are committed to eliminating sex entirely unless it’s between one married man and one married woman – as long as they’re married to each other, of course.

And, I’m guessing, you can only do it “missionary style” for the sole purpose of making a baby – and the woman may NOT enjoy it.

Anything else is considered by this group to be “licentious sexual activity” which puts you “into agreement with Satan” and “releases demonic energy into the realm of the spirit.”

Lord, I hope South Park does an episode on this!

Then there’s the group’s “Statement of Faith,” which is immersed in extreme religious dogma only a tiny minority of people ascribe to.

I’m not even going to get into that. If you want to read the entire thing yourself, click here to see the series of screen shots Dr. Ahearne took before Exodus Cry removed the application from their website.

Personally, I find the entire document to be absurd. However…

I’m a live-and-let-live kinda guy. If this is what some folks choose to believe, fine. As Thomas Jefferson so eloquently put it…

“It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.”

But when it comes to using the power of government to enforce their brand of morality on those who don’t share their beliefs, that’s where we need to draw the line.

The fact that Exodus Cry has gone to such great lengths to mislead the public – hiding behind “slavery” and “human trafficking” to promote their “sex purity” crusade – demands they be called out.

Which I just did.

Now…it’s Miller Time.

Mr. Muth is president of Citizen Outreach, a limited-government grassroots advocacy organization, and government affairs counsel to the Nevada Brothel Association. His views are his own.

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Suzette Cole, CEO, Moonlite Bunny Ranch

“Prostitution is the oldest profession and will not go away. Nevada has been doing it right since 1971 when we took it out of the criminal’s hands and put it into a highly-regulated industry. As an added benefit, there has never been a case of HIV/AIDS in the history of legal brothels here…and you can’t say that about any other profession in the United States.”

John Stossel, Syndicated Columnist

“We don’t have to cheer for prostitution, or think it’s nice, to keep government out of it and let participants make up their own minds. It’s wrong to ban sex workers’ options just to make ourselves feel better.”

Steve Chapman, Syndicated Columnist

“Prohibition doesn’t eliminate the harms generally associated with prostitution, such as violence, human trafficking and disease. On the contrary, it fosters them by driving the business underground.”

Christina Parreira, UNLV Researcher/Sex Worker

“Sex work is my CHOICE. I’d like to continue to have the opportunity to make that choice legally. We don’t need protection. We’re consenting, adult women.”

New York Assemblyman Richard Gottfried

“Trying to stop sex work between consenting adults should not be the business of the criminal justice system.”

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker

“Yes, sex work should be decriminalized. As a general matter, I don’t believe that we should be criminalizing activity between consenting adults, and especially when doing so causes even more harm for those involved.”

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders

“I think the idea of legalizing prostitution is something that should be considered…(and) certainly needs to be discussed.”

U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris

“When you’re talking about consenting adults, I think that, yes, we should really consider that we can’t criminalize consensual behavior, as long as no one is being harmed. … We should not be criminalizing women who are engaged in consensual opportunities for employment.”

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren

“I believe humans should have autonomy over their own bodies and they get to make their own decisions.”

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard

“If a consenting adult wants to engage in sex work, that is their right, and it should not be a crime. All people should have autonomy over their bodies and their labor.”

Gov. John Hickenlooper

“Legalizing prostitution and regulating it, so there are norms and protections and we understand more clearly how people are being treated and make sure we prevent abuse, I think it should be really looked at.”

Mike Gravel, former Alaska Senator

“Sex workers are workers, and they deserve the dignity and respect that every worker deserves. For too long, we’ve denied them that. Sex workers, not politicians, should lead the way in crafting sex work policy.”

Prof. Ronald Weitzer, George Washington University:

“Unlike illegal street prostitution in many other places, Nevada’s legal brothels do not disturb public order, create nuisances, or negatively impact local communities in other ways. Instead, they provide needed tax revenue for cash-strapped rural towns.”

Prof. Barbara Brents, UNLV author, “State of Sex”:

“Teams of scholars…have concluded that Nevada’s legal brothels provide a far safer environment for sex workers than the criminalized system in the rest of the United States.”

Prof. Sarah Blithe, UNR author, “Sex and Stigma”:

“Discussions of legal prostitution are rife with misinformation. Academic work and popular press publications alike often conflate legal prostitution in the United States with illegal prostitution.”

Lee Herz Dixon:

“Do I think eradicating legal prostitution from all Nevada counties will erase the practice of the oldest profession in the state, or break the nexus of drugs, crime, and exploitation of the vulnerable? I do not.”

Journalist Michael Cernovich:

“It’s empirically proven that criminalizing sex work allows children to be sex trafficked more readily as they are afraid to turn to authorities and wonder if they will be arrested.”

Enrique Carmona:

“We need to put aside moralistic prejudices, whether based on religion or an idealistic form of feminism, and figure out what is in the best interests of the sex workers and public interest as well.”

Ruby Rae, professional courtesan

“In the brothels, we have the choice, always, to say which clients we will say yes and no to. We have staff that would never let a man hurt us, and we have a clientele that do not come here to hurt us.”

Kiki Lover, professional courtesan:

“We are human beings who chose to do sex work on our own free will. We get treated with respect and like family at the brothels. It’s a job just like any other job. We sell a service that all humans need.”

Paris Envy, professional courtesan:

“I’m not ‘exploited.’ I’m not ‘trafficked.’ I’m not ‘brainwashed.’ I don’t need to be ‘saved.’ I’ve freely chosen this line of work, which is a legal, private transaction between consenting adults.”

Alice Little, professional courtesan:

“It’s ILLEGAL sex work that exploits children. It’s ILLEGAL sex work that traffics. It’s ILLEGAL sex work that sees women exploited and abused by pimps.”

Jim Shedd, Nevadan

“Prostitution should be licensed, regulated, taxed like any other service industry. There are many single or widowed men and women who should be able to take advantage of such services provided by consenting adults for consenting adults. Let’s act to at least reduce illegal sex trafficking and other sex crimes by creating safe and legal outlets for paying adults who wish to use them.”

Paul Bourassa, brothel customer:

“Some people are just never given a chance in the dating scene, so brothels offer those of us with no experience a chance to learn what it’s like to be on a date.”

Lewis Dawkins, brothel customer:

“It’s not always about sex. Little compliments and encouragements offered by the ladies help build my self-confidence. It’s a business, yes. But the ladies care personally about their clients. That means a lot.”

Brett Caton, brothel customer:

“I think brothels provide an important function in society. Legal ones give a safe outlet to their customers and for some men it is the only way they get so much as a hug.”

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Mission

The Nevada Brothel Association PAC is a coalition of legal brothel owners, brothel workers, brothel clients and brothel supporters dedicated to defending a woman’s right to choose professional sex work as a career, protecting the public’s health and safety, and preserving Nevada’s rich live-and-let-live heritage.